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The Second Bardo: Visions of Deities

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  • G Offline
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    gerry456
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    I was reading this *The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Tour * an overview of the Bardos.
    www.theosophical.org/publications/1452

    Briefly, in Tibetan mysticism, you may know all this, after the physical vehicle ceases to exist, the consciousness is swept up into the ultimate Clear Light where the Buddhas dwell. If the Luminosity is too much, accordingly, then the consciousness of the deceased individual drops down to the Second Bardo for refuge. The Second Bardo is all about the Visions of Deities : the Dhyani Buddhas . There is a time period of blissfulness emanating from these dieties but this inevitably transitions into utter ugly hostility where the individual is tested as to whether he runs in fear or not. If the individual runs then he is ushered into another Bardo where, ultimately after a Life-Review Judgement scenario, he is prepared for an appropriate reincarnation.

    Apparently Blavatsky attributes these 7 dieties to the Elohim. If that is the case and it all fits together, Cabbalistically speaking, then are the hostile aspects the Qlippothic aspects?

    Also, if this does all tie in then did the Quabbalists have a similar notion whereby, in effect, final disconnection of Guph ("death") leads to what is in effect, an astral journey up and down the 32 paths of the TOL and for some this does entail Life Review and subsequent reincarnation?

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    gerry456
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #2

    Just thought I'd revive this as it's a fascinating prospect.

    Any thoughts?

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    Jim Eshelman
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #3

    It's just a bunch of lower astral phenomena the strong cultural implantation among Tibetans in particular.

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    gerry456
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #4

    I get it.

    Not higher astral?

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    ThelemicMage
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #5

    On the contrary. (And yes, they are of higher astral significance.)

    These are the seven peaceful deities and the seven wrathful deities.

    These can correspond, qabalisticly to the seven Angels, and thereby, as well, to Qliphothic deities in the mirror aspect.

    This is not, by far, singularly Tibetan, but is an aspect of the sevenfold mind.

    These deities can be interpreted as the seven parts of the mind, or the seven-pointed star of the mind.

    A huge part of the experience of dying, or letting go of the ego.

    For a more detailed interpretation of this vision, please check out www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/Timothy-Leary-The-Psychedelic-Experience-The-Tibetan-Book-Of-The-Dead.pdf

    The explanation of the second bardo is well explained in this piece of literature, and has been kind of a go-to on many for this subject, including myself.

    Good luck!

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    Jim Eshelman
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #6

    @ThelemicMage said

    "This is not, by far, singularly Tibetan, but is an aspect of the sevenfold mind. These deities can be interpreted as the seven parts of the mind, or the seven-pointed star of the mind."

    You and I disagree on this. I would agree that they are local expressions of more general principles, but not that the explicit content is of anything approaching universal importance. They very much resemble all the other layers of "astral burn-off" that people experience in the days following physical death, which take forms highly distinctive to the individual, his or her experience, karma, cultural patterns, etc.

    Now, if you're drawn to it, and study it, incorporating its images and patterns into your psyche, they it likely will serve you for navigation purposes. That still doesn't make it anything other than a particular parochial vision.

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    ThelemicMage
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #7

    I agree with every aspect of your statements, though I would interpret them as more important than you might, or maybe I am just interpreting this for the original poster.

    If one has a map of the sevenfold mind, and can interpret their consciousness with these karmic hallucinations, taking whatever form they may, it can be much easier for 'neophytes not to be confused by the excess of lights.'

    Meaning, whatever forms these manifest in, can be recognized for what they are, and the mirror is folded yet again with the light so clear.

    Though I do see your point. One is not to pay attention to such hallucination, as this serves as a sign of paying too much attention to one's self. To let go and float downstream, only to be washed back to the highest bardo, is the ideal. Though for a neophyte, the visions in this thread would be better mastered right away than one who might be inclined to cling to lower bardo phenomena, (third bardo.)

    Edit: I would like to add, that in the descriptions of these higher visions, one is brought into the more natural mind-state. A place of mind that has been ingrained in our genetics before the onslaught of headache-provoking artificial light. When observing these deities, (and one will, from time to time, taking a step away from the clear light brings on the higher visions,) one can get out of the proverbial mental construct of the "modern mind." The clear light isn't a fluorescent light inside one's head that one can just activate. It is a sensual, sexual, combination of the natural creative rainbow that man has attempted to re-create artificially with lights, midways of fairgrounds, (not to mention the ferris wheel), even television.

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    gerry456
    replied to gerry456 on last edited by
    #8

    @ThelemicMage said

    "
    The explanation of the second bardo is well explained in this piece of literature, and has been kind of a go-to on many for this subject, including myself.
    Good luck!"

    The explanation and entire book can be summarised as thus; practicing mystics should learn to disidentify with their cognitive distortions if they want to avoid spiritual freak outs.

    ychcentral.com/lib/15-common-cognitive-distortion

    Embroilment in our own distortions? Each culture would have it's own interpretation

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